Actress Nayanthara has issued a strongly worded open letter to actor-producer Dhanush, accusing him of obstructing the release of her Netflix documentary, Nayanthara: Beyond the Fairytale. The issue revolves around her use of behind-the-scenes footage from the film Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, which Dhanush produced. The controversy escalated after Dhanush allegedly denied permission to use material from the film and later sent a legal notice, demanding ₹10 crore as damages.
In the open letter, Nayanthara begins by stating, “This is an open letter to you in order to set several wrong things right.” She highlights her journey as a self-made actor in the industry, emphasizing, “Cinema is a fight for survival for people like me: a self-made woman with no links in the industry and someone who had to struggle my way to the position I hold today.”
The actress revealed her documentary faced delays due to Dhanush’s refusal to grant a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for using clips and songs from Naanum Rowdy Dhaan, a pivotal film in her career and personal life. “After two long years of battling it out with you for an NOC… we finally decided to give up, re-edit, and settle for the current version,” she wrote. Nayanthara expressed her dismay at Dhanush’s refusal to allow even the use of lyrics, adding, “Your refusal to give us the opportunity to use it, or even just lyrics from the songs, broke my heart.”
The matter escalated further when Dhanush sent a legal notice after the release of the documentary trailer, objecting to the use of three seconds of behind-the-scenes footage shot on personal devices. He allegedly demanded ₹10 crore as compensation. Reacting to this, Nayanthara questioned his character, stating, “I wish you were half the person you portray to be on stage in audio launches… but clearly, you do not practice what you preach.”Nayanthara also accused Dhanush of holding a grudge over the success of Naanum Rowdy Dhaan. “It’s almost been 10 years since the release of the film, and it is a long time for someone to continue to be this vile while wearing a mask in front of the world,” she wrote. The actress alleged that Dhanush harbored “supreme hurt” over the film’s success and took issue with its accolades, stating that his displeasure was evident even during the 2016 Filmfare Awards.
Concluding her letter on a philosophical note, Nayanthara urged Dhanush to find peace. “The world is a big place, it’s meant for everyone… It doesn’t take away anything from you; it’s only an ode to their work, blessings, and people’s kindness.” She further introduced the German word “schadenfreude” to describe the apparent joy he took in others’ struggles.
Fans and industry members have taken note of the public exchange, which has sparked a debate on professional ethics and the challenges faced by self-made artists. As Nayanthara poignantly stated, “I believe the people of Tamil Nadu, or anyone with the right conscience, would not appreciate such tyranny, even if it comes from an established personality like you.”
